The Fundamental Problem of Metaphysics

{Link to the Original version of 2001}

Anil Mitra PhD, © August 2009

History of this article

This piece was first written in 2001—before the development of the Universal metaphysics of Journey in being.html. That metaphysics enables a much more succinct and definitive resolution of the fundamental problem of metaphysics. Therefore this brief note replaces the original essay version

The Fundamental problem of metaphysics

While traditional metaphysics addresses the nature of being it has little to say on the fact of being. That there is being is a mystery in traditional metaphysics

Heidegger labeled the problem of why there is being as the fundamental problem of metaphysics

Resolution of the fundamental problem

Readers are referred to the essay Journey in being.html for the foundation and development of the Universal metaphysics

The centerpiece of the Universal metaphysics is its fundamental principle. One form of the fundamental principle of metaphysics is: The one Universal law is that being is limited only by Logic. From this it follows immediately that if the Universe exists in the Void state—if there is no being—a manifest state of being must emerge. Thus the resolution of the original fundamental problem of metaphysics is rather trivial; this points to the power of the Universal metaphysics

The original form of the fundamental principle of metaphysics is: The Void which is the absence of being exists and contains no Object. For demonstration of this form and demonstration that the form regarding Universal law, refer to Journey in being.html

The real fundamental problem of metaphysics

Whatever we know is known via our ability to know. When I have the experience of seeing a mountain, what is seen—as seen—is a joint product of mind and world (this questions objectivity but does not imply that there is no objectivity.) There are therefore two fundamental concerns

What is being?

What has being?

These questions—What is being? and What has being?—constitute a true fundamental problem of metaphysics

This problem is addressed in Journey in being.html